WASHINGTON, June 2 (Reuters) – The chairman of the House of
Representatives Judiciary Committee said on Sunday his panel was
investigating U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder for a conflict
in remarks made under oath at a hearing on a government leak
investigation.
U.S. Representative Bob Goodlatte and another Republican
lawmaker last week asked Holder to clarify testimony he gave
Congress about whether he signed off on any decision to pursue a
criminal investigation of Fox News reporter James Rosen.
Asked on “Fox News Sunday” whether his panel was
investigating Holder for possible perjury, Goodlatte said: “Yes,
it is fair to say we are investigating the conflict in his
remarks. Those remarks were made under oath.”
“But we also think it’s very important that the attorney
general be afforded the opportunity to respond. So we will wait
to pass judgment on that until after we receive his response,”
the Virginia lawmaker said.
In his May 15 testimony, Holder said he had never been
involved in any decision to pursue a criminal investigation of a
journalist.
But media outlets subsequently reported that Holder had
approved a decision to seek a search warrant for Fox News email
records, and Reuters reported Holder signed off on a subpoena
for telephone records as well. Rosen was
described as a co-conspirator by investigators but was not
charged.
The Republican lawmakers asked Holder in their letter on
Wednesday for a “full and accurate account of your involvement
in and approval of these search warrants.”
The Justice Department said it planned to show Holder’s
testimony was factual in response to the lawmakers’ letter and
the White House said Holder’s testimony was truthful.
(Reporting by Xavier Briand; Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing
by Mohammad Zargham)
